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The T’ang Dynasty was an era of unrivalled
wealth and luxury. The country was successfully
reunified and the borders were expanded,
pushing Chinese influence into new lands.
Confucianism became a semi-religious
instrument of the state; yet Buddhism continued
to flourish, spreading into Korea and Japan. The
arts reached new levels of sophistication. Poetry
and literature flourished under the enlightened
rulers. The Silk Road brought fortunes into
China. Precious treasures were imported on the
backs of camels from far away lands and
bartered for Chinese silk, medicinal herbs, and
pungent spices. T’ang China was a multicultural
empire where foreign merchants from across
Central Asia and the Middle East settled in the
urban centers, foremost among them the
thriving capital of Chang’an (modern X’ian), a
bustling cosmopolitan center of over two million
inhabitants. Foreign traders lived next to native
artisans and both thrived. New ideas and exotic
artistic forms followed alongside. The T’ang
Dynasty was a cultural renaissance where many
of the forms and objects we now associate with
China were first created. Moreover, this period
represents one of the greatest cultural
outpourings in human history.
The great influence of the horse throughout the
history of China cannot be underestimated. In
fact, the ancient expansion of the Chinese
Empire was due in large part to the horse. The
rapid mobility of horse allowed for quick
communication between far away provinces.
Likewise, the military role of horses aided in the
conquest and submission of distant lands. The
need to import stronger, faster steeds from
Central Asia (as opposed to the local Mongol
pony) led to the creation of the Silk Road. The
importance of the horse in the history and
culture of China can be viewed, in part, through
the artistic legacy of this great civilization. In
sculpture, painting, and literature, horses were
glorified and revered. Horses were believed to
be related to mythological dragons, reflecting
their sacred status within society. During the
T’ang Dynasty, the adoration of the horse can be
seen through their burial art. Horse models
excavated from mausoleums of the period are
among the most splendid and easily recognizable
works of Chinese art.
This impressive, large sculpture of a horse still
retains much of its original white pigment in tact.
However, even more impressive, is the superb
condition of the polychrome painted saddle
blanket, featuring a delightful floral pattern
painted in red, green, and black hues. The
remarkable preservation of this saddle blanket
reveals the love and admiration the Chinese had
for these majestic creatures, embellishing them
with the finest regalia to enhance their natural
beauty. This horse steps forward, the muscles of
the legs carefully defined. Both the proportions
of this horse and its non-removable saddle
suggest its origin near Xian (the modern name
for the ancient T’ang capital known as
Chang’an). This gorgeous sculpture is a
testament to the admiration and adoration the
Chinese had for this marvelous creatures.
Although they were an integral part in the
expansion and defense of the empire, they were
equally regarded for their beauty and grace as
revealed by this sculpture.
- (H.694)
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